(A) lost membership as wages rose across most industries
(B) frequently used the threats of strikes to obtain higher wages
(C) won a significant victory with the passage of the Smith-Connally Act
(D) ** won automatic union memberships for new defense-plant workers
(E) agreed to freeze union membership and wages until the war was over.
EXPLANATIONS BELOW
Concept note-1: -Union membership grew dramatically during World War II due in large part to the maintenance of membership rule of the National War Labor Board, which also arbitrated disputes during this time.
Concept note-2: -Following the end of World War II a huge wave of strikes swept across the United States. During wartime, unions had promised not to strike to keep defense production running smoothly. But soon after the war ended, unions across the nation began demanding new contracts. As a result, 1946 saw a record number of strikes.
Concept note-3: -Workers, who, in many cases belonged to unions, were constantly in their own wars with ownership over their conditions. To alleviate this, the National War Labor Board was created and charged with the task of managing employee/employer disputes during both World Wars.
Concept note-4: -They gave in on workers’ wage demands. Most workers in major industries saw their wages increase by almost 20 percent after the war. But corporate executives won the battle to include important “company rights” provisions in the new contracts they signed with unions.